New Sulphur Springs campus a step closer

The Paris Junior College Board of Regents Monday night paved the way for a new campus to be built in Sulphur Springs, scheduled a public hearing for an annexation election in Lamar County and approved beginning a women’s volleyball program at the college.

Regents authorized the administration to move forward with plans to purchase land from the Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corporation on which a new college campus will be constructed. The parcel of land is located on West Loop 301.

PJC is implementing a portion of its five-year strategic plan completed last year that proposes building a new campus in Sulphur Springs to replace the existing campus located on West Houston Street. That facility was opened new in the fall of 1996 with 233 students.

The campus today has nearly 800 students enrolled in daytime and night classes. Classroom space is needed, as is office space for instructors, advisors and counselors, according to PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin.

“We are in need of classroom space and facilities that will enable us to provide the best college education possible to a growing number of students” Dr. Anglin said. “We plan to obtain the land and then move forward as quickly as possible with construction of a new campus.”

SHW Group of Dallas, hired by PJC Regents in the fall of last year, are already providing architectural services for PJC that will include developing plans and designing new facilities for the campus in Paris and new campuses in Sulphur Springs and Greenville.

The board set a public hearing on the proposed May 13 annexation election for 10 a.m. on Feb. 10 in the Ray Karrer Theater on the PJC campus. The hearing is for the purpose of informing the public on the need for the annexation election. Those attending will also have opportunity for comment and questions.

The board voted unanimously to begin a women’s volleyball program at PJC this fall. The new women’s athletic program will put the college in full compliance with Title IX. The college now has three women’s sports activities, with the others being basketball and softball. Men’s sports include basketball, baseball and golf.

In other business, the board approved the appointment of Gary Preston, Paris High School principal, to fill the vacancy left when board member Ginna Walker resigned after moving from Place 5. Preston will fill the term that expires in May.

The board also:

» Heard a report from Dean of Business Services John Eastman that enrollment has reached a new spring record of 4,090 students